Inlet fixture for liquid tanks



June 17, 1952 T. H. swlsHER '2,600,521

INLET FIXTURE FOR LIQUID TANKS Inventor: Tho'mas Hwishel,

by JM, ww M His Attorneys June 17, 1952 Filed Feb. 7. 1948 r. H. swlsHER 2,600,521

INLET- FIXTURE FOR LIQUID TANKS '2 sl-IEETs-SHEET 2' 225 22e F|G 3 |2 l j 21e als 22o 239 235 im l 2385 237 II-w l INVENToR. Thomas Hwshet",

Hfs Attorneys Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED INLET FIXTURE FOR LIQUID TANKS Thomas H. Swisher, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor to Hotpoint Inc., a corporation of New York Application February 7, 1948, Serial No. 6,887

2 Claims. (Cl. 137-21) The present invention relates to combined inlet and drain fixtures for liquid tanks, and more particularly to such fixtures that are especially suited for use in hot water tanks.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved fixture of the character noted that may be supported by a single spud arranged in an opening provided in the bottom wall of the associated hot water tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fixture of the character noted that carries diffusion structure projecting through a supporting spud arranged in an opening provided in the bottom wall of the associated hot water tank so that incoming cold water does not materially mix with and stir up hot water stored in the upper portion of the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved xture of the character noted that accommodates complete and ready drainage of the associated hot water tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved iixture of the character noted that prevents silt and other foreign materials settling therein from the associated hot water tank from being stirred up by incoming cold water in order to provide clear, clean hot water and to facilitate the removal of this foreign material from the bottom of the tank.

Further features of the invention pertain to the parti-cular arrangement of the elements of the combined inlet and drain fixture, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specication taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of a hot water tank carrying a combined inlet and drain fixture embodying the present inven tion; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of a hot water tank carrying a modified combined inlet and drain fixture embodying the present invention; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of a hot water tank carrying a further modified combined inlet and drain xture embodying the present invention; and Fig. 4 is an inverted plan View of diffusion structure carried by the upper portion of the casing of the fixture shown in Fig. 3. I

Referring now to Fig. l, thereis illustrated a hot water storage tank I0 provided with a convex bottom wall H supporting a combined inlet and drain fixture I2 embodying the features of the present invention. More particularly, the lowermost portion of the bottom wall I I has a centrally located opening I3 formed therein into which a spud I4 is arranged and secured in liquid-tight relation with respect to the bottom Wall II by ya ring of fused metal I5. More particularly, the s pud Ill may be directly welded in place upon thebottom wall II and projecting through the opening I3 formed therein.

The xture I2 comprises an upper casing section I6 and a lower casing section II; the lower end of the upper casing section I6 being externally threaded, as illustrated at I8, and the upper end of the lower casing section I'I being internally threaded, as illustrated at I9. More particularly, the upper end of the lower casing section I1 is detachably secured to the lower end of the upper casing section I6, the threaded portions I9 and I8 being engaged in order to provide a liquidtight joint therebetween. Also the upper end of the upper casing section I5 is externally threaded, as illustrated at 20, and the spud I 4 is internally threaded, as illustrated at 2 I. More particularly, the upper end of the upper casing section I6 is detachably secured to the Spud i4, the threaded portions 20 and 2| being engaged in order to provide a liquid-tight joint therebetween. The upper casing section I6 is of hollow construction providing an upstanding substantially cylindrical chamber 22 therein communicating through the spud I4 directly with the lower portion of the tank I9; and the lower casing section II is of hollow construction providing a substantially cylindrical chamber 23 therein communicating directly with the chamber 22; whereby the chambers 22 and 23 constitute, in effect, one continuous chamber in the fixture l2.

Also the lower casing section Il is provided with an inlet connection 24 that is internally threaded, `as illustrated at 25, in order to receive an externally threaded cold water inlet pipe or conduit, not shown. Further the lower casing section Il comprises wall structure 26 having an opening 21 formed therein and supporting an upstanding conduit 28. More particularly, the lower end of the conduit 23 is suitably secured in place in the opening 27 and communicates through the opening 21 with the inlet connection 24. The conduit 28 extends upwardly through the chambers 23 and 22 and projects through the spud I4 into the lower portion of the tank I0. The extreme upper end of the conduit 28 is closed by a cap 29; and a plurality of holes 30 are formed in the side wall of the conduit 28 just below the cap 29 and cooperate therewith to provide diiusion structure. Accordingly, liquid from the inlet connection 24 may be supplied through the opening 21 into the conduit 28 and thence through the holes 39 into the lower portion of the tank I0. Specically, the arrangement of the holes 39 in the side wall of the conduit 28 just below the cap 29 carried by the extreme upper end of the conduit 28 cooperate to bring about a diffusion action; whereby cold water moving upwardly in the conduit 28 is deflected outwardly and horizontally over the bottom wall adjacent to the bottom of the tank I0. This arrangement prevents the incoming cold water entering the inlet connection 24 from mixing with and churning up the hot water stored in the upper portion of the tank |9, thereby maintaining temperature stratication.

Also the lower casing section comprises a hollow valve housing 3| that is internally threaded, as illustrated at 32, and receives a valve element 33 that is externally threaded, as illustrated at 34, the valve element 33 being arranged within the valve housing 3| and the threaded portions 32 and 34 being engaged. The outer endof the valve housing 3| is externally threaded, as illustrated at 35, and carries a cap 36 that is internally threaded, as illustrated at 31, the threaded portions 35 and 3l being engaged. The valve element 33 is provided with an operatingstem 38 that projects through a centrally disposed hole 39 formed in the cap 3S, the outer end of the stem 38 carrying an operating handle 40. Further the lower casing section is provided with a drain connection 4| that is externally threaded, as illustrated at 42, in order to receive an internally threaded drain Pipe or conduit, not shown. The drain connection 4| directly communicates with the interior of the valve housing 3|; while the interior of the valve housing 3| communicates with the chamber 23 through a connecting passage 43 that is provided with a surrounding valve seat 44 facing the interior of the valve housing 3| and cooperating with the adjacent face of the valve element 33.

It will be understood that when the valve element 33 occupies its closed or seated position with respect to the valve seat 44, the interior of the Valve housing 3| is closed oi from the chamber 23 through the passage 43. On the other hand when the valve element 33 occupies its opened or unseated position with respect to the valve seat 44, the interior of the valve housing 3| is opened to the chamber 23, through the passage 43. Accordingly, when the valve element 33 occupies its opened position the lower portion of the tank i9 is placed in communication with the drain connection 4| through the spud |4, the chambers 22 and 23, the passage 43 and the interior of the valve housing 3|. Of course, it will be understood that the valve element 33 may be operated between its opened and closed positions by manipulating the handle 40, the stem 38 causing the threaded portion 35i to travel in the corresponding direction with respect to the threaded portion 32.

During normal operation of the tank i9 when the valve element 33 occupies its closed position, silt and other foreign material in the tank ||l has a tendency to settle upon Jthe bottom Wall and fall through the spud I4 and thence through the chamber 22 into the chamber 23,

wherein it is accumulated. The silt and foreign material accumulating in the chamber 23 and on the bottom wall of the tank l are not churned up or otherwise disturbed by the cold water entering the tank |9 through the inlet connection 24 since the conduit 28 passes directly through the connecting chambers 23 and 22 and the spud I4. Accordingly, when the valve element 33 is subsequently operated to its opened position the water in the tank i9 moves through the chambers 22 and 23 sweeping the accumulated silt and other foreign material in the chamber 23 through the passage 43 and the interior of the valve housing 3| into the drain connection 4|. Moreover, the water passing from the lower portion of the tank lil sweeps the bottom wall I carrying with it any silt or other foreign material accumulated thereon into the chamber 22 and thence through the drain connection 4|. At this time incoming cold water through the inlet connection 24 also passes through the conduit 28 into the lower portion of the tank |0 and thence into the chamber 22 and ultimately out through the drain connection 4|; whereby the cold water inlet piping may also be drained through the tank I9 into the drain connection 4|. Further when the tank Il) is empty, the incoming cold water from the conduit 28 washes the silt and foreign material accumulated on the bottom wall into the chamber 22. This arrangement is very advantageous as it not only positively insures that silt and other foreign material in the tank I0 may be readily ilushed therefrom, but it also provides for the draining of the cold water inlet piping.

Thus it will be appreciated that the ixture l2, as a whole, may be readily detached from the spud i4 by disengaging the associated threaded portions 29 and 2|; whereby the conduit 28 and the associated diiusion structure carried thereby may be readily withdrawn through the spud I4. This arrangement is very advantageous as it permits ready cleaning and repair of the diffusion structure carried by the conduit 28. Also at this time the lower portion of the tank I0 is readily accessible from the eX- terior through the spud |13 in order to permit cleaning of the interior of the tank lo in the event such is necessary. Subsequently, the upper end of the conduit 28 and the associated diffusion structure carried thereby may be inserted through the spud 4 into the lower portion of the tank and then the upper casing section I6 secured in liquid-tight relation to the spud I4 by re-engaging the threaded portions 29 and 2|.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a hot water storage tank IIE! provided with a con vex bottom wall supporting a modified form of the combined inlet and drain xture ||2 ernbodyng the features of the present invention. More particularly, the lowermost portion of the bottom wall has a centrally located opening I|3 formed therein into which a spud ||4 is arranged and secured in liquid-tight relation with respect to the bottom wall by a ring of fused metal H5. More particularly, the spud ||4 may be directly welded in place upon the bottom wall l i and projecting through the opening ||3 formed therein.

The fixture 2 comprises a casing H6, the upper end of which is internally threaded, as illustrated at |17, and the spud H4 is externally threaded, as illustrated at ||8. The upper end of the casing ||6 is detachably secured to the spud |I4, the threaded portions I|1 and ||8 being engaged in order to provide a liquid-tight joint therebetween. The casing H6 is of hollow construction providing an upstanding substantially spherical chamber HS therein communicating through the spud II4 directly with the lower portion of the tank H0,

Also the casing IIB is provided with an inlet connection |211 that is internally threaded, as illustrated at |2I, in order to receive an externally threaded cold water inlet pipe or conduit, not shown. Further, the casing H0 comprises wall structure |22 having an opening |23 formed therein and supporting an upstanding ,conduit |24. More particularly, the lower end of the conduit |24 is suitably secured in place in the opening |23 and communicates through the opening |23 with the inlet connection |20. The conduit |24 extends upwardly through the chamber IIS and projects through the spud II4 into the lower portion of the tank I I3, The extreme upper end of the conduit |24 is provided with two integral side pieces |25 that are bent in overlapped relation adjacent to the outer ends thereof and secured together in order to provide a top wall |23* Thus the extreme upper end of the conduit |24 is closed by the top wall |23; and two holes are formed in the side wall thereof by the side pieces |25 just below the top wall |23 and cooperate therewith to provide diffusion structure. Accordingly, liquid from the inlet connection |24 may be supplied through the opening |23 into the conduit |24 and thence through the two holes provided in the extreme outer end thereof into the lower portion of the tank ||0. Specifically, the arrangement of the two holes in the side wall of the conduit |24 just below the top wall |23 carried by the extreme upper end of the conduit |24 cooperate to provide a dilfusion action; wherebv cold water moving upwardly in the conduit |24 is deflected outwardly and horizontally over the bottom wall I adjacent to the bottom of the tank |I0. This arrangement prevents the incoming cold water entering the inlet connection |20 from mixing with and churning up the hot water stored in the upper portion of the tank lil, thereby maintaining temperature stratification.

Also the casing ||5 comprises a hollow valve housing |21 that is internally threaded, as illustrated at |28, and receives a valve element |29 that is externally threaded, as illustrated at |30, the valve element |29 being arranged within the valve housing |21 and the threaded portions |28 and |30 being engaged. The outer end of the valve housing 21 is externally threaded, as illustrated at |3|, and carries a cap |32 that is internally threaded, as illustrated at |33, the threaded portions |3| and |33 being engaged. The valve element |29 is provided with an operating stem |34 that projects through a centrally disposed hole |35 formed in the cap |32, the outer end of the stern |34 carrying an operating handle |36. Further the casing lit is provided with a drain connection |31 that is eX- ternally threaded, as illustrated at |38, in order to receive an internally threaded drain pipe or conduit, not shown. The drain connection |31 directly communicates with the interior of the valve housing 21; while the interior of the valve housing'l21 communicates with the chamber H9 through a connecting passage |30 that is provided with a surrounding valve seat |40 facing the interior of the valve housing |21 and cooperating with the adjacent face of the valve element |23. Also the wall structure |22 has a passage 4| formed y,therein and providing a communication between the inlet connection |20 and the chamber i9. Further, the passage |4| is provided with a surrounding valve seat |42 that' cooperates with a supplemental valve element |43 secured to the end of the valve element |29 by an arrangement including a screw |44. The valve seat |42 surrounding the passage |4I faces the passage |39 and cooperates with the adjacent face of the valve element |43.

It will be understood that when the valve element |29 occupies its closed or seated position with respect to the valve seat |40, the interior of the valve housing |21 is closed off from the chamber IIB through the passage |33; and also the valve element |43 occupies its closed or seated position with respect to the valve seat |42 in order to close oli the inlet connection I 20 from the chamber I|9 through the passage |4|. On the other hand, when the valve element |23 occupies its opened or unseated position with respect to the valve seat |40, the interior of the valve housing |21 is opened to the chamber I9 through the passage |39; and likewise the valve element |43 occupies its opened or unseated position with respect to the valve seat |42 in order to open the inlet connection |20 to the chamber I|9 through the passage I4I. Accordingly, when the valve element |29 occupies its opened position, the lower portion of the tank |I0 is placed in communication with the drain connection |31 through the spud H4, the chamber IIB, the passage |39 and the interior of the valve housing |21; and likewise, when the valve element |43 occupies its opened position, the inlet connection |20 is placed in communication with the drain connection |31 through the passage |4I, the chamber I|9,the passage |39 and the interior of the valve housing |21. Of course, it will be understood that the valve elements |29 and |43 may be operated simultaneously between their opened and closed positions by manipulating the handle |36, the stem |34 causing the threaded portion |30 to travel in the corresponding direction with respect to the threaded portion |28.

During normal operation of the tank ||0 when the valve elements |29 and |43 occupy their respective closed positions, the inlet connection |20 is closed off from the chamber I |9 and the chamber ||9 is closed off from the drain connection |31. At this time silt and other foreign material in the tank I I0 has a tendency to settle upon the bottom wall and fall through the spud I I4 and thence into the chamber I I9, wherein it is accumulated. The slit and other foreign material accumulating in the chamber |I9 and on the bottom wall of the tank IIO are not churned up or otherwise disturbed by the cold water entering the tank |I0 through the inlet connection 20 since the conduit |24 passes directly through the chamber I|9 and the spud I|4. Accordingly, when the valve elements |29 and |42 are subsequently operated to their open positions, the water in the tank I I0 moves through the chamber ||9 sweeping the accumulated silt and other foreign material in the chamber |I9 through the passage |39 and the interior of thev valve housing |21 into the drain connection |31. Moreover, the water passing from the lower portion of the tank lli) sweeps the bottom wall III carrying with it any silt or other foreign material accumulated thereon into the chamber IIS and thence through the drain connection |31. Also at this time cold water from the inlet connec-y tion |23 moves through the passage |4|, the chamber H9, the passage |39 and the interior of the valve housing |21 and ultimately out through the drain connection |31; whereby the cold water inlet piping may also be drained directly into the drain connection |31. This arrangement is very advantageous as it not only positively insures that silt and other foreign material in the tank Il!) may be readily flushed therefrom, but it also provides for the draining of the cold water inlet piping.

Thus it will be appreciated that the fixture l2, as a whole, may be readily detached from the Spud ||4 by disengaging the associated threaded portions ||1 and H3; whereby the conduit |24 and the associated diiusion structure carried thereby may be readily withdrawn through the spud |4. This arrangement is very advantageous as it permits ready cleaning and repair of the diffusion structure carried by the conduit |24. Also at this time the lower portion of the tank |||l is readily accessible from the exterior through the spud ||4 in order to permit cleaning of the interior of the tank in the event such is necessary. Subsequently the upper end of the conduit |24 and the associated diffusion structure carried thereby may be inserted through the Spud ||4 into the lower portion of the tank |l|| and then the casing ||6 secured in liquid-tight relation to the spud ||4 by reengaging the threaded portions ||1 and H3.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a hot water storage tank 2H) provided with a convex bottom wall 2li supporting a further modified form of the combined inlet and drain fixture 2|2 embodying the features of the present invention. More particularly, the lowermost portion of the bottom wall 2H has a centrally located opening 213 formed therein into which a Spud 2|4 is arranged and secured in liquid-tight relation with respect to the bottom wall 2| by a ring of fused metal 2 5. More particularly the spud 2|4 may be directly welded in place upon the bottom wall 2| and projecting through the opening 2|3 formed therein.

The fixture 2 |2 comprises a casing 2|6, the upper end o which is externally threaded, as illustrated at 2|1, and the stud 2|4 is internally threaded, as illustrated at 2|8. The upper end of the casing 2|6 is detachably secured to the spud 2|4, the threaded portions 2| 1 and 2| 8 being engaged in order to provide a liquid-tight joint therebetween. The casing 2|6 is of hollow construction providing an upstanding substantially cylindrical chamber 2&3 therein communicating through the Spud 2|4 directly with the lower portion of the tank 2 0.

Also the casing 2|| is provided with an inlet connection 22|! that is internally threaded, as illustrated at 22|, in order to receive an externally threaded cold water inlet pipe or conduit, not shown, which inlet connection 22u communicates directly with the chamber 2|9. The upper end of the casing 2|6 carries diffusion structure 222 projecting through the spud 2|4 into the lower portion of the tank 2li). The diffusion structure 222 comprises three upstanding substantially equally angularly spaced-apart legs 223 and three deecting plates 224, 225 and 226 arranged in longitudinally spaced-apart relation. The lower end of each 0f the legs 223 is provided with a notch 221 therein in order to provide a shoulder engaging the extreme upper end of the casing 2|6. This arrangement properly positions the diffusion structure 222 on the upper end or the casing 2I6; and the lower` ends of the legs 223 are suitably secured rigidly to the adjacent cylindrical surfaces of the casing 2|6; whereby the diiusion structure 222 is carried with the casing 2|6. The uppermost deflecting plate 224 is imperforate; the intermediate deecting plate 225 has a relatively small centrally located hole 228 formed therein; and the lowermost defiecting plate 226 has a relatively large centrally located hole 229 formed therein. Accordingly, liquid from the inlet connection 220 may be supplied through the chamber 2|9 into the lower portion of the tank 2||l. Specifically, the arrangement of the deflecting plates 224, 225 and 226 respectively carried by the extreme upper end of the casing 2 Hi, cooperate to provide a diffusion action; whereby cold water moving upwardly from the chamber 2|9 into the lower portion of the tank 2| is deflected outwardly and horizontally over the bottom wall 2|| ad- `iacent to the bottom of the tank 2|0. This ar, rangement prevents the incoming cold water en.. tering the inlet connection 22|) from mixing with and churning up the hot water stored in the upper portion of the tank 2H), thereby maintaining temperature stratication.

Also the casing 2|6 comprises a hollow valve housing 230 that is internally threaded, as illustrated at 23|, and receives a valve element 232 that is externally threaded, as illustrated at 233. the valve element 232 being arranged within the valve housing 230 and the threaded portions 23| and 233 being engaged. The outer end of the valve housing 23|! is externally threaded, as illustrated at 234, and carries a cap 235 that is internally threaded, as illustrated at 236, the threaded portions 234 and 236 being engaged. The valve element 232 is provided with an operating stem 231 that projects through a centrally disposed hole 238 formed in the cap 235, the outer end of the stem 231 carrying an operating handle 239. Further the casing 2|t` is provided with a drain connection 24|) that is externally threaded, as illustrated at 24|, in order to receive an internally threaded drain pipe or conduit. not shown.- The drain connection 2.40 directly communicates with the interior of the valve housing 230; while the interior of the valve housing 230 communicates with the chamber 2| 9 through a connecting passage 242 that is provided with a surrounding valve seat 243 facing the interior of the valve housing 230 and cooperating with the adjacent face of the valve element 232. It will be understood that when the valve element 232 occupies its closed or seated position with respect to the valve seat 243, the interior of the valve housing 230 is closed o from the chamber 2 |9 through the passage 242. On the other hand. when the valve element 232 occupies its opened or unseated position with respect to the valve seat 243, the interior of the valve housing 23) is opened to the chamber 2 i 9 through the passage 242. Accordingly, when the valve element 232 occupies its opened position, the lower portion of the tank 2|0 is placed in communication with the drain connection 240 through the spud 2|4, the chamber 2| 3, the passage 242 and the interior of the valve housing 230. Of course, it will be understood that the valve element 232 may be operated between its opened and closed positions by manipulating the handle 239. the stem 231 causing the threaded portion 233 to travel in the corresponding direction with respect to the threaded portion 23|.

When the valve element 232 is operated to its opened position, the water in the tank 2I0 moves through the chamber 2| 9, the passage 242 and the interior of the Valve housing 230 into the drain connection 240. At this time incoming cold water through the inlet connection 220 also passes into the chamber 2I9 and through the passage 242 into the drain connection 240; whereby the cold water inlet piping may also be drained into the drain connection 240. When the tank 2I0 is thus drained, any silt or foreign material therein is flushed through the chamber 2I9 into the drain connection 240. This arrangement is very advantageous as it not only positively insures that silt and other foreign material in the tank 2 I 0 may be readily flushed therefrom, but it also provides for the draining of the cold water inlet piping.

Thus it will be appreciated that the fixture 2 I 2, as a whole, may be readily detached from the spud 2 I4 by disengaging the associated threaded portions 2II and 2I8; whereby the diffusion structure 222 carried by the upper end of the casing 2 I 6 may be readily withdrawn through the spud 2M. This arrangement isV very advantageous as it permits ready cleaning and repair of the diffusion structure 222. Also at this time the lower portion of the tank 2I0 is readily accessible from the exterior through the spud 2I4 in order to permit cleaning of the interior of the tank 2I0 in the event such is necessary. Subsequently, the diffusion structure 222 m-ay be inserted through the spud 2I4 into the lower portion of the tank 2 I0 and then the casing 2I6 secured in liquid-tight relation to the spud 2I4 by re-engaging the threaded portions 2I'I and 2I8.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided combined inlet and drain xtures for hot water tanks, that are of improved construction and arrangement.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In a liquid tank provided with a bottom wall having an opening therein, and a spud arranged in said opening and secured in liquidtight relation to said bottom wall; the combination comprising a unitary combined inlet and drain fixture normally carried by said spud and provided with a casing detachably secured in liquid-tight relation thereto, said casing including a chamber communicating through said spud with the lower portion of said tank, a conduit arranged in said casing and extending through said chamber and projecting through said spud into the lower portion of said tank, said casing including a liquid inlet connection communicating with the lower end of said conduit, liquid diffusion structure carried by the upper end of said conduit and communicating therewith and positioned in the lower portion of said tank in order to cause liquid moving from said conduit into the lower portion of said tank to be deflected outwardly over said bottom wall, said casing including a liquid drain connection and a first passage communicating between said chamber and said drain connection, said casing including a second passage communicating between said inlet connection and said chamber, valve mechanism arranged in said casing and selectively operative to open and to close said passages, liquid from said chamber moving through said first passage into said drain connection and liquid from said inlet connection moving through said second passage into said chamber when said valve mechanism is operated to open said passages, and an operating member associated with said valve mechanism and extending through a hole provided in said casing to the exterior.

2. In a liquid tank provided with a bottom wall having an opening therein, and a spud arranged in said opening and secured in liquidtight relation to said bottom Wall; the combination comprising a unitary combined inlet :and drain fixture normally carried by said spud and provided with a casing detachably secured in liquid-tight rel-ation thereto, said casing including a chamber communicating through said spud with the lower portion of said tank, a conduit arranged in said casing and extending through said chamber and projecting through said Spud into the lower portion of said tank, said casing including a liquid inlet connection communicating with the lower end of said conduit, liquid diffusion structure carried by the upper end of said conduit and communicating therewith and positioned in the lower portion of said tank in order to cause liquid moving from said conduit into the lower portion of said tank to be deflected outwardly over said bottom wall, said casing including a valve housing and a rst passage communicating therebetween and said chamber and a liquid drain connection communicating with said valve housing, a rst valve seat surrounding said rst passage and facing said valve housing, said casing including a second passage communicating between said inlet connection and said chamber, a second valve seat surrounding said second passage :and facing said valve housing, a valve element arranged in said valve housing and selectively operative to open and to closed positiom with respect to said Valve seats, liquid from said chamber moving through said first passage into said drain connection and liquid from said inlet connection moving through said second passage into said chamber when said valve element is operated to its open position, and an operating member associated with said valve element and extending through a hole provided in said casing to the exterior.

THOMAS H. SWISHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 608,148 Brooks July 26, 1898 1,063,754 Weiss June 3, 1913 1,236,329 Manneschmidt Aug. 7, 1917 1,321,235 McCann Nov. 11, 1919 2,207,057 Gulick July 9, 1940 2,233,050 Groeniger Feb. 25, 1941 

